Taxonomy, classification

There are four races of Rainbow Lorikeets in Australia.
They are found in a broad coastal strip along the East coast of
Australia, extending well into the Great Dividing Range. Their
range extends from Cape York peninsula in the North to the
South coast, as far West as the Eyre Peninsula, SA. They are
extending their range further inland, making use of nectar on
offer in gardens
and parks of
towns.
Outside human settlements they are not found anywhere in the
semi-arid or arid interior of the continent. For details refer
to a field guide.

Rainbow Lorikeets can be found in various types of
forest, where
flowers and/or fruit are available. They adapt very well to the
presence of humans and are found in urban parks and
gardens.

Where to look? How to find
this species?

Finding Rainbow Lorikeets is usually quite easy. They can often
be found in urban parks and
gardens,
feeding on nectar in flowering trees. Hundreds of birds can
be observed, if one knows where they roost (which they often
do in urban
environments. A flock of Rainbow Lorikeets settling in for
the night can be an impressive sight (and sound spectacle...).

Sightings

Rainbow Lorikeets, race "moluccanus", are a common sight e.g. in
the suburbs of
Sydney, where we first saw them in 2003.

Click here for sighting information

They were also sighted on a trip to the North coast of NSW, in Iluka
and various other locations along the coast in between. At Urunga
several thousands have their roosts in just three trees. Settling
in for the night and also their early-morning departures are events
that nobody in the neighbourhood will miss - the noise is almost
ear-deafening.

I. Duncan reports spotting Rainbow Lorikeets at South West Rocks,
northern NSW, in September 2012.

Tamworth, NSW, on the western side of the Great Dividing Range, was
teeming with Rainbow Lorikeets in June 2008. They were also found by
us in a park in Moree,
200 km north of Tamworth, in September 2008. C. Hayne
reports that they are one of the most common bird species in the township
of Moree (2012). Their range is probably expanding westward as food
becomes available in urban parks and gardens.

Rainbow Lorikeets are not common in the area where we live (Narrabri,
NSW), but have recently arrived, where they were first spotted by us in
February 2009. Since then they are observed by us regularly around
Narrabri Lake. Seen in
Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri,
for the first time in May 2012. Since then they appear there
very infrequently.

Spotted also in Warrabah
NP (Upper Namoi valley, 40 km East of Manilla, NSW) in September 2010.

Like other cockatoos and parrots,
Rainbow Lorikeets have a division of labour during the breeding season.
The female takes care of the egg incubation, during which she is dependent
on him to feed her near the nesting hollow. Prior to incubating, the female
will therefore test the male's willingness and ability to feed her.

These pages are largely based on our own observations. For more salient
facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Disclaimer:Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee
that the information presented on these pages is always correct or
up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no
responsibility for the contents of external pages.
All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission
of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the
material presented on this web site, please contact us:
Last updated: 18 Jan. 2015.